Licensed Practical Nurse in Texas: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Allied healthcare

Texas employs 57,560 LVNs, with a statewide median of $62,240 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Texas licensing picture, and where to train.

What LVNs Earn in Texas (May 2025)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for LVNs in major Texas markets:

What That Pay Is Worth in Texas

Prices in Texas run about 3% below the national average (cost-of-living index 97.1 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $62,240 median stretches to roughly $64,099 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Texas (2024–2034)

Texas is projected to grow LVNs employment +8.9%, faster than the +2.6% projected nationally. The state expects about 5,470 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Texas License and Certification Requirements

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) — Texas's term for LPN — regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).

1. Note the name difference: Texas calls this license LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse), not LPN. Same role, same NCLEX-PN exam.
2. Complete a BON-approved vocational nursing program (typically 12 months at a Texas community college or hospital-based program).
3. Pass a fingerprint background check, register with Pearson VUE, and pass the NCLEX-PN. Licenses renew every two years.

Official requirements: Texas Board of Nursing (BON) →

Training in Texas

Texas LVN programs run about 12 months full time — one of the fastest paid healthcare entries. Programs at community colleges across Texas cost far less than private schools; check BON's approved program list and verify NCLEX pass rates before enrolling.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Texas include:

• Alvin Community College — Certificate
• Amarillo College — Certificate
• Angelina College — Certificate
• Arlington Career Institute — Certificate

Where LVNs Work in Texas

Real Texas nursing & rehab facilities that employ LVNs include:

• Normandy Terrace Nursing & Rehabilitation Center — San Antonio
• Five Points at Lake Highlands Nursing and Rehab — Dallas
• Richardson Nursing and Rehabilitation — Richardson
• Willow Ridge Wellness & Rehabilitation — Fort Worth
• Golden Acres Living and Rehabilitation Center — Dallas
• Williamsburg Village Healthcare Campus — Desoto

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want a faster healthcare entry point and can handle direct care.

Think twice if: Bodily fluids, shift work, emotional stress, or physical lifting are dealbreakers.

Why it's resilient: Practical nursing relies on bedside presence, trust, care coordination, and licensed hands-on support.

First Steps

Compare state-approved LPN programs and NCLEX-PN pass rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Texas statewide and metro estimates for SOC 29-2061. Licensing summary compiled from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Texas wages · Texas licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.